WASHINGTON — The Flag City Honor Flight has been grounded for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, canceling its trips to Washington D.C. Now, the nonprofit is back to normal operations to help veterans visit their war's respective memorials at no cost.
Over 80 veterans from northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan departed the Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport Tuesday morning. WTOL 11's Dan Cummins will be with them every step of the way.
You can follow along below:
11:25 p.m.
The veterans have returned home from their trip. Greeted with applause and fanfare, it's a welcome not all of them received when they came back from war.
11:10 p.m.
We're about 15 minutes away from the grand return of the Flag City Honor Flight veterans live on WTOL 11.
7:30 p.m.
An Honor Flight group from Illinois boards their plane to applause from Flag City Honor Flight participants.
Flag City Honor Flight's group is set to fly home in about an hour.
5:30 p.m.
Dan catches up with two female veterans who made the trip. They saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and visited the new Military Women's Memorial.
4 p.m.
There are a few female veterans on today's trip.
3 p.m.
2:10 p.m.
1 p.m.
The 81 veterans and their chaperones are making their way around the D.C. area. Among the highlights on the itinerary are the World War II Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial and Air Force Memorial.
Noon
Dan is standing by with two Vietnam-era veterans.
11:45 a.m.
10:55 am.
The group has arrived at the World War II memorial. Dan will be live during the noon news.
10 a.m.
Honor Flight has landed in D.C.
7:45 a.m.
81 veterans and their chaperones are ready for takeoff from Toledo
6:30 a.m.
Veterans and their chaperones are gathering at Toledo Express for their flight. Dan Cummins is joined by one of them.
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